4 JEMS off to Indonesia with chaperones

Four youth and two adult chaperones are representing JEMS Progressive Community Organization at the 2011 TUNZA International Children and Youth Conference on the Environment in Bandung, Indonesia this week.{{more}}

Attendees include St. Vincent Grammar School students Zoran Gerald and Dante Ollivierre; Zoranna Byron, a student at the St. Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua, and Andrea Patterson of the St. Clair Dacon Secondary School.

Accompanying the four students are Krystella Sayers, an employee of the Customs and Excise Department and Janet Joseph, a teacher at the St. Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua.

Sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in collaboration with the government of Indonesia, the JEMS representatives will join more than 1,400 children and youth from around the world in timely discussions about the environment.

Under the theme “Reshaping our Future through a Green Economy and Sustainable Lifestyle,” the young people will contribute their roles and inputs to the upcoming United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. Additionally, the conference will review the contribution of youth to the International Year of Forests and how they can adopt more environment-friendly lifestyles.

“This is an exciting opportunity for these young people,” said JEMS President Rhonda Lee.” Beyond participating in a significant international gathering of peers, our youth will benefit from

the experiences of travel and cross-cultural exchanges. This will no doubt be a major life event for these four young people.

“JEMS is especially appreciative of the services of Krystella Sayers and Janet Joseph who will accompany the students to the conference as chaperones,” Lee added. “And, of course, we’re also grateful for the support of the parents and the schools in helping to see that these young people could take advantage of this unique opportunity.”

Established in 1978, JEMS is a grassroots community development and environmental management organization.